BRIDGEPORT -- Sha'Quan Bretoux led a balanced Central attack with 18 points to lead the Hilltoppers over rival Harding, 79-68, in a FCIAC matchup Tuesday night.

Bretoux had 12 of his 18 points in the second quarter, including the first 10 points of the second quarter for the Hilltoppers, who quickly opened a 28-9 lead.

Orhan Cecunjanin, who finished with 17 points, and Antwan Pettway, who had 14, each chipped in with eight first-half points, while Marcus Blackwell contributed six to the Hilltoppers' first-half efforts. Blackwell finished with 16, while Tyler Ancrum was the fifth player in double figures with 10.

"The first half was acceptable," Central coach Barry McLeod said. "And the second half, it was horrendous."

The Presidents scored seven points in the first quarter and six in the second and trailed Central 39-13 at the break.

However, Harding outscored Central 55-40 in the second half. The two catalysts for the Presidents were Terrence Rogers and Reggie Stewart, who had 14 and 13 points, respectively.

"The second half we played with a little bit more energy," said Harding head coach Charles Clemons, whose team now drops to 5-11 on the season. "But the game was decided in the first quarter."

Clemons added that his team did not make any adustments at halftime to make the game competitive but rather "players just had to make a self-assessment and we went from there."

Dayvon McAllister had nine of his 11 points in the third quarter as the Presidents cut a 26-point halftime deficit down to 17 at the end of the third quarter.

"You're up 26, maybe you get complacent," McLeod said of his team's inability to hold onto such a large lead. "Without them saying it, I'm sure they did (get complacent). Someone's got to get the ball and take control of things, score a couple baskets in a row and settle things down. We didn't have anybody to do that."

For stretches Central's offense looked explosive and its defense swarming, but McLeod was disappointed with the inconsistency and feels the 11-3 Hilltoppers have many areas where improvement is needed.

"I don't think anyone played well in the second half," McLeod added. "We broke down defensively and there were far, far too many turnovers from our guards that allowed them to get back into the game to a certain extent. We've just got a lot of work to do."